Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales

{{Infobox Christian denomination

|image=All Saints Church, Newcastle 2014.jpg

|polity=Presbyterian

|governance=

|leader_title1=Clerk of Presbytery

|leader_name1=Falko Drijfhout

|associations=International Conference of Reformed Churches

|area=England, Wales, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany

|founded_date=1996

|congregations=23

|publications=The Presbyterian Network

|website1={{URL|http://www.epcew.org.uk/}}

}}

{{Religion in England}}

{{Religion in Wales|sidebar=yes}}

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales (EPCEW) is a reformed and conservative evangelical Presbyterian denomination based in England and Wales with churches in Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden. Founded in 1996, denominational growth has been steady but the denomination remains small with around 20 congregations.

History

In 1986, a Presbyterian conference was held in a Free Church of Scotland chapel in London, where a vision of a new Presbyterian denomination in England was proposed, which was to be faithful to Scripture and adhere to the Westminster Confession. As a consequence, the Presbyterian Association in England was formed in 1987{{cite book |last1=Bauswein |first1=Jean-Jacques |last2=Vischer |first2=Lukas |date=1999 |title=The Reformed Family Worldwide: A Survey of Reformed Churches, Theological Schools, and International Organizations |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FIYUAQAAIAAJ |publisher=W.B. Eerdmans |isbn=9780802844965 |page=512}} from several small Christian groups and existing congregations with efforts at church planting following. In 1991, an interim Presbytery was formed with congregations in Blackburn, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Durham and Hull to work towards the establishment of the new denomination. This came to fruition in 1996, taking the name, Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.{{cite web |url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/about.html |title=About Us |website=Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales}}

Several EPCEW ministers{{Cite web|url=https://www.presbyterianseminary.org.uk/faculty|title=Faculty Members|website=Westminster Seminary}} were instrumental in the 2020 founding of Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Gateshead, England.{{Cite web|url=https://www.presbyterianseminary.org.uk/copy-of-our-story-1|title=Our Story|website=Westminster Seminary}}

Church planting

In 2000, two congregations in Cardiff, Immanuel and Bethel, were accepted into communion.{{cite web|url=http://christianquoter.blogspot.com/2010/06/presbyterianism-in-england-today-part-3.html|title=Presbyterianism in England Today (Part 3)|website=Graham's Uncommon Place|date=20 June 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://heidelblog.net/2012/09/there-are-presbyterians-in-england-and-theyre-having-a-conference/|website= The Heidelblog|title=There Are Presbyterians in England and They're Having a Conference|date=25 September 2012}} The EPCEW has grown significantly since its founding with a number of congregations joining the EPCEW and others being planted by existing churches. The denomination is working to establish church plants in Oxford,{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordpres.co.uk/|title=Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church|website=Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-23}} Lincoln,{{Cite web|url=https://sheffieldpres.org.uk/missions/lincoln|title=Lincoln | Sheffield Presbyterian Church}} Gloucester,{{Cite web|title=Gloucester Evangelical Presbyterian Church|url=https://www.facebook.com/gloucesterpres/|access-date=2020-11-28|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} and Sunderland.{{Cite web|url=http://sunderlandpres.org.uk/|title=Sunderland Presbyterian Bible Study {{!}} nil desperandum auspice Deo|website=sunderlandpres.org.uk|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-23}} They are actively looking to plant churches throughout England and Wales.{{cite web|url=http://epcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/epcew-church-planting.pdf|title=EPCEW Statement on Church Planting|website= epcew.org.uk}}

Denominational growth has been steady:

class="wikitable"
Year

! Number of congregations

! Notes

2000

| 6

| {{cite web |url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001204182200/http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations.html |title=Congregations |author= |website=epcew.org.uk |publisher=Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales |access-date=2016-06-26 |archive-date=2000-12-04}}

2005

| 10

| {{cite web |url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218021426/http://www.epcew.org.uk/cong/index.html |title=Congregations |author= |website=epcew.org.uk |publisher=Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales |access-date=2016-06-26 |archive-date=2005-12-18}}

2010

| 15

| Includes two congregations in Sweden.{{cite web |url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202185003/http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations.html |title=Congregations |author= |website=epcew.org.uk |publisher=Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales |access-date=2016-06-26 |archive-date=2010-12-02}}

2015

| 17

| Includes one congregation in Sweden and one congregation in Germany.{{cite web |url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122023431/http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations.html |title=Congregations |author= |website=epcew.org.uk |publisher=Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales |access-date=2016-06-26 |archive-date=2015-11-22}}

2020

|23

|There are 20 established churches with a congregation in Sweden, a church plant in Switzerland, and another in Germany.{{Cite web|url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations|title=Congregations | EPCEW}}

Congregations

As of 2020, the denomination has twenty-three congregations and church plants at:{{cite web |url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations.html |title=EPCEW Congregations |author= |website=Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales Website |publisher=Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales |access-date=27 April 2015}}

=England=

class="wikitable sortable"
style="text-align:center;"| Congregation

! style="text-align:center;"| Town or City

! style="text-align:center;"| Minister

!Website

! style="text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Image

All Saints Presbyterian Church

|Newcastle Upon Tyne

|Rev Benjamin Wontrop{{Cite web|title=Revd Benjamin Wontrop {{!}} All Saints Presbyterian Church|url=https://allsaintspres.org.uk/people/revd-benjamin-wontrop/|access-date=29 March 2022|website=All Saints' Presbyterian Church}}

|[https://allsaintspres.org.uk/]

|150px

Blackburn Evangelical Presbyterian Church

|Blackburn{{Cite web|url=https://www.affinity.org.uk/find-a-church/church-information/blackburn-evangelical-presbyterian-church|title=Church information|website=www.affinity.org.uk}}

|Rev Norman Green{{Cite web|title=Blackburn Evangelical Presbyterian Church {{!}} EPCEW|url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations/blackburn-evangelical-presbyterian-church|access-date=2021-04-16|language=en-US}}

|

|150px

Bury St Edmunds Presbyterian Church

|Bury St Edmunds

|Matthew Jolley{{Cite web|title=Leadership|url=https://bse-pc.org/about-us/leadership/|url-status=dead|website=Bury St Edmunds Presbyterian Church|access-date=2020-06-25|archive-date=2020-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625200759/https://bse-pc.org/about-us/leadership/}}

|[http://www.bse-pc.org/]

|

Cambridge Presbyterian Church

|Cambridge

|Rev Douglas McCallum{{Cite web|title=People - About Us - Cambridge Presbyterian Church|url=https://www.cambridgepres.org.uk/about-us/people|access-date=2021-04-16|website=www.cambridgepres.org.uk}}

|[http://www.cambridgepres.org.uk/]

|

Chelmsford Presbyterian Church

|Chelmsford

|Rev Darren Moore{{Cite web|title=Chelmsford Presbyterian Church {{!}} EPCEW|url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations/chelmsford-presbyterian-church|access-date=2021-04-16|language=en-US}}

|[http://www.chelmsfordpres.org.uk/]

|

Durham Presbyterian Church

|Durham

|Rev Phil Baiden{{Cite web|title=Durham Presbyterian Church {{!}} EPCEW|url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations/durham-presbyterian-church|access-date=2021-04-16|language=en-US}}

|[http://durhampresbyterian.church/]

|

East Hull Presbyterian Church

|Hull

|Vacant

|[http://www.ehpc.co.uk/]

|150px

Hexham Presbyterian Church

|Hexham

|Vacant{{cite web | url=https://www.mtw.org/stories/details/0419-from-bible-study-to-church-plant-in-northern-england | title=From Bible Study to Church Plant in Northern England - Mission to the World }}

|[http://hexhampres.uk/]

|

Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church

|Leckhampton, Cheltenham

|Rev Matt Faux{{Cite web|title=Leadership|url=https://cheltenhampres.org.uk/about/leadership/|access-date=2021-06-02|website=Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church}}

|[http://www.cheltenhampres.org.uk/]

|150px

Oxford Presbyterian Church

|Oxford (Northgate Hall)

|Rev Andy Young{{Cite web|title=Learn about the Oxford Plant|url=https://www.gr-uk.org/vlogs/learn-about-the-oxford-epc-plant|access-date=2021-06-02|website=Gospel Reformation: UK|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215130/https://www.gr-uk.org/vlogs/learn-about-the-oxford-epc-plant|url-status=dead}}

|[https://www.oxfordpres.co.uk/]

|150px

Sheffield Presbyterian Church

|Sheffield

|Rev Dr Kevin Bidwell{{Cite web|title=Sheffield Presbyterian Church {{!}} EPCEW|url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations/sheffield-presbyterian-church|access-date=2021-04-16|language=en-US}}

|[http://www.sheffieldpres.org.uk/]

|150px

Solihull Presbyterian Church

|Solihull

|Rev Dr Stephen Dancer{{Cite web|title=Solihull Presbyterian Church {{!}} EPCEW|url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations/solihull-presbyterian-church|access-date=2021-04-16|language=en-US}}

|[http://www.solihullpres.org.uk/]

|

Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church

|Sunderland

|Rev Nathan Hilton{{Cite web|title=Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church {{!}} EPCEW|url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations/sunderland-evangelical-presbyterian-church|access-date=2021-04-16|language=en-US}}

|[http://www.sunderlandpres.org.uk/]

|

Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church

|Cheltenham

|Rev David Pfeiffer,{{Cite web|title=Cheltenham – Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church {{!}} EPCEW|url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations/cheltenham-whaddon-road-evangelical-presbyterian-church|access-date=2021-04-16|language=en-US}} Rev Larry Wilkes

|[http://www.whaddonevangelicalchurch.org/about-us/]

|150px

Lincoln Presbyterian Church

|Lincoln

|Rev Ben Thomas{{Cite web|title=About Us {{!}} Lincoln Presbyterian Church|url=http://lincolnepc.org.uk/about-us|access-date=2020-11-28|language=en-GB}}

|[http://lincolnepc.org.uk/]

|

Gloucester Evangelical Presbyterian Church

|Gloucester

|Rev Michael Cochran,{{Cite web|title=GRUKology Episode 16: Interview with Michael Cochran - Church Planting in Gloucester|url=https://www.gr-uk.org/vlogs/interview-with-michael-cochran-church-planting-in-gloucester-uk|access-date=2020-11-28|website=Gospel Reformation: UK|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Rev Tim Dalton{{cite web | url=https://www.e-n.org.uk/2021/09/uk-news/presbyterian-and-congregational-encouragements/ | title=Presbyterian and Congregational encouragements | date=September 2021 }}

|[https://www.gloucesterpres.co.uk/]

|

=Wales=

class="wikitable sortable"
style="text-align:center;"| Congregation

! style="text-align:center;"| Town or City

! style="text-align:center;"| Minister

!Website

! style="text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Image

Christ Presbyterian Church

|Barry{{Cite web|url=https://www.affinity.org.uk/find-a-church/church-information/barry-evangelical-presbyterian-church |title=Church information|website=www.affinity.org.uk}}

|Rev Dr Drew Goodman{{cite web |url=http://www.christchurchbarry.org.uk/ |title=Home |website=christchurchbarry.org.uk}}

|[http://www.christchurchbarry.org.uk/]

|

Bethel Presbyterian Church

|Cardiff{{cite web |url=http://www.bethelpcr.org.uk |title=Bethel Presbyterian Church, Cardiff |website=www.bethelpcr.org.uk}}

|Rev Andrew Graham

|[http://www.bethelpcr.org.uk]

|

Immanuel Presbyterian Church

|Cardiff{{cite web |url=http://www.immanuelcaerau.org.uk/ |title=Immanuel Presbyterian Church |website=www.immanuelcaerau.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604204947/https://www.immanuelcaerau.org.uk/ |archive-date=4 June 2019}}

|Rev Dr Peter Naylor

|[https://www.immanuel.org.uk/]

|150px

Ely Presbyterian Church

|Ely, Cardiff{{cite web |url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/congregations/cardiff-ely-presbyterian-church |title=Ely Presbyterian Church (Cardiff) |website=www.epcew.org.uk/ |accessdate=2 February 2023}}

|Rev Philip Haines

|[https://www.epcreformed.org/]

|

=Sweden=

{{see also|Evangelical Reformed Church in Sweden}}

  • Tranås, Sweden{{cite web |url=http://www.immanuelskyrkan.info/ |title=Immanuelskyrkan, Tranås |website=www.immanuelskyrkan.info |access-date=2016-12-09 |archive-date=2016-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220092638/http://www.immanuelskyrkan.info/ |url-status=dead }}

=Germany=

  • Berlin, Germany{{Cite web|url=http://www.epkd.de/|title=Home - Presbyterianische Kirche|website=Presbyterianische Kirche Berlin}}

= Switzerland =

  • Zurich, Switzerland{{Cite web|title=Zürich Presbyterianische Gemeinde|url=https://zuerichpres.ch/|access-date=2020-11-28|website=Zürich Presbyterianische Gemeinde|language=de-CH}}

Publications

The denomination publishes The Presbyterian Network in Spring and Autumn with theological and pastoral articles and news from its congregations.{{cite web |url=http://www.epcew.org.uk/resources.html |title=Resources |date= |website=Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales}}

International organisations

Along with the Free Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), the denomination is one of the three members of the International Conference of Reformed Churches from Great Britain,{{cite web |url=http://www.icrconline.com/members.html |title=Member Churches |website=International Conference of Reformed Churches |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717064352/http://www.icrconline.com/members.html |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 16, 2013}} and one of seven European Christian denominations who founded the European Conference of Reformed Churches.{{cite web |url=http://www.eucrc.org/index.php/members/list-of-members |title=Member Churches |website=www.eucrc.org |publisher=European Conference of Reformed Churches}} The denomination has a co-operative agreement with the Presbyterian Church in America{{cite web |url=http://epcew.org.uk/OLD/bco/bco.pdf |title=BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER |page=2 |website=epcew.org.uk |publisher=Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales}} and maintains relations with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland.{{cite book |last=McGoldrick |first=James E |date=March 2012 |title=Presbyterian and Reformed Churches - A Global History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cTQSEAAAQBAJ |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher=Reformation Heritage Books |page=170 |isbn=9781601783493}}

References

{{Reflist}}